Books

When you're creative, nothing in your life needs to be boring. Here is a totally fun glass case that would be equally comfortable hanging out with an adult or child. Crafted from soft felt and flannel, adorable through and through, if you don't wear glasses, you're going to wish you did!

Materials:
1 piece felt and 1 piece flannel 7" x 8"
felt scraps
embroidery thread
small flower buttons
pattern

1] Make copy of pattern.

2] Cut out the inside and outside of the glass case. Decide on the colors for your birds and cut out all pieces and leaves.

3] Using the pattern as a guide, mark the vine on the felt, and following the directions on the pattern, embroider the vine, Add the leaves. (There will be places where part of the birds will cover part of the leaves. This will give the piece a dimensional look.)

4] Following the pattern, applique on the birds, building the bird as you go along. (i.e. First applique on large body piece, then on 2 birds, the head piece. Next, add the wings, beak, then eyes.) Although not on the pattern, I embellished the birds using 6 strands of embroidery. I used french knots, cross stitches, and straight stitches. You can leave them plain, following my suggestions, or come up with any embellishment you'd like. Perhaps you'd like to add beads. Go crazy!

5] Finish the embroidery by adding the various flowers and buttons. If you don't have flower buttons, cut out felt ones or use another decorative embroidery stitch. NOTE: I did not sew on the top flower button until after I sewed the outside to the inside. It is so close to the edge it could have interfered with sewing the pieces together.

6] Pin the inside to the outside with right sides together. 

7] Sew them together leaving a 2" opening on the bottom back side. 

8] Trim the corners to reduce some of bulk, turn, and lightly press. Slip stitch the opening closed. Add your last button.

9] Fold the glass case lengthwise, matching bottom and sides. The embroidery side should be on the outside. Starting on the front at the top opening, blanket stitch down the side and bottom. Make sure your stitches are tight, but not so tight that the sides are puckering. Your work should lay flat.

Tah Dah! You're done. Slip your glasses inside and they'll rest comfortably until you are ready to wear them again!

Here is a sweet little mouse bookmark with a long and useful tail! This one is made out of felt and sewn, but if you're doing the project with young children, you can glue the felt pieces together or use card stock or construction paper. Whichever way you make him, I'm sure you'll find he'll fast become an indispensable friend!

Materials:
felt
embroidery floss
yarn
black glass seed beads (optional)
pattern

1] Make copy of pattern.

2] Cut out materials as follows:
2 body pieces in gray or tan felt
2 ears in pink
3 pieces of yarn 24" long (I used 2 tan and 1 pink)

3] Transfer face markings and embroider face as follows:
Nose: satin stitch using 3 strands floss
Eyes: French knot using 3 strands of floss (optional: instead of French knot add 2 black seed beads)

4] Using pattern as a guide place the 2 ears on the mouse. Using 2 strands of floss, attach to mouse using a running stitch.

5] To make the tail, knot the 3 pieces of yarn together 1” from an end. Braid the 3 pieces until you are 6” from the end. Knot the tail close to the end of the braiding section. Cut the extra yarn leaving 1” beyond the knot.


6] Position the tale on the back of the front body piece. Place it so 1/2" of the braid will be inside the mouse. Tack it in place being careful not to go all the way through the felt.( If you are using paper, glue it in place and let it dry before proceeding.)

7] Pin the mouse together with wrong sides touching. Using 2 strands of embroidery floss, attach the 2 pieces using a running stitch.

8] Knot the end of 6 strands of black floss leaving a 2" tail. Referring to the pattern for placement, slide the needle between the front and back section of the mouse. Make a small knot on the other side of the nose. Clip the whiskers so they are 1/2" long.


9] Find a book you want to read, and slip your little mouse's tail in the book to mark your place!

 

Note about patterns: We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. We offer preemptive apologies for any mistakes that may be made. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2009. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art 

This is the way to fold a single piece of paper to become an 8 page booklet. Children can make their own as soon as they can neatly fold a piece of paper. The steps are included below.

Materials:

1 piece 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper
scissors
rubber cement (optional) (Do not use water based glues or they will curl the edges of your booklet)

NOTE: When giving directions, I will explain each step of folding. After I make the fold, I will open the paper, and mark with a pencil the fold I just made, so it can easily be viewed.

1] Fold lengthwise, then open.


2] Fold widthwise.


3] With the paper folded widthwise, bring one 8 1/2" edge up to the middle and fold.

4] Bring the other 8 1/2" edge to the middle and fold.

5] Open the paper so it is only fold once widthwise. Cut the paper fron the fold to the crease line. You will be cutting along the center lengthwise fold. This will make a cut in the middle of the paper.


6] Gluing is optional, but I find it gives a more finished look to the booklet. To glue, open the paper, and place a layer of rubber cement alone either inside edge of the 8 1/2" edges. Fold the paper lengthwise and the two 8 1/2" edges will be glued shut.


7] Looking at the picture above, notice I wrote the word FRONT on one section. This will become the front of the booklet. To fold the paper into the booklet shape, hold the 2 short edges of the paper and stand the paper up on the open edges, and push it together, accordian style, so only 2 sections are visible.

 
8] Finally, fold the booklet in half, so the section with the word FRONT is on top. Make sure the folds are firmly creased. The booklet is now ready to be used as a book, journal or notepad.

Note about patterns: We are sharing patterns we have designed and made for our own children, families and friends. Every effort is made to share information in a clear and accurate manner. We offer preemptive apologies for any mistakes that may be made. Please let us know via comments or emails if you stumble upon a mistake or if you encounter directions that leave you scratching your head! We will rectify the situation as soon as humanly possible!

http://www.weefolkart.com
Copyright © Wee Folk Art 2008 - 2009. All rights reserved.

All photos, text and patterns are copyright protected. You may not copy, reproduce or redistribute any material found on WeeFolkArt.com without written permission. Wee Folk Art retains all rights.